Description
Object description
British private served with 1st Bn Hampshire Regt in GB, India, Egypt and Palestine, 1934-1940; NCO served with 1st Bn Royal Hampshire Regt, Western Desert Force in Egypt, 6/1940-2/1941; served with 1st Bn Hampshire Regt, 1st (Malta) Infantry Bde on Malta, 2/1941-3/1943; served with 1st Bn Hampshire Regt, 231st Independent Infantry Bde in Egypt, Sicily and Italy, 3/1943-11/1943; served with 1st Bn Hampshire Regt, 231st Infantry Bde, 50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Div in GB and North West Europe, 11/1943-11/1944; served as instructor with General Service Corps at Helmsley Camp in GB, 12/1944-5/1945
Content description
REEL 1 Background in Southampton, GB, 1917-1934: family; education; employment. Aspects of enlistment and training as private with Regimental Depot, Hampshire Regiment, Lower Barracks, Winchester, GB, 1934: basic training at depot. Aspects of period as private with 1st Bn Hampshire Regt in GB, 1934-1936: job looking after horsed transport; acting as groom to German Army officer observer during manoeuvres, 1936. Aspects of period as signaller with 1st Bn Hampshire Regt in India, 1937-1938: character of service in Rawalpindi and Kamptee; attempts to avoid becoming a signaller; incident of army wife who became a prostitute to make ends meet; precautions against cholera; amusing story of animals present in hospital; signals equipment; visit by fortune teller. Aspects of voyage aboard HMT Strathnaver from India to Suez, Egypt, 1938: conditions on board; rumour of troops destination being Polish Corridor; issue of European theatre of operations equipment.
REEL 2 Continues: Recollections of operations as signaller with 1st Bn Hampshire Regt, Palestine Command in Palestine, 1938-1940: arrival at Haifa, 10/1938; shelling of Mount Carmel by HMS Ajax; denial that troops had been bound for Polish Corridor; lack of drivers; preference for Arab civilians; portraits of Adolf Hitler in houses raided by unit near Nazareth; visit by German counsel to unit headquarters; story of Jewish woman who had to migrate in Indian-manned ship; Arab attack on 2nd Bn Royal Ulster Rifles near border with French Syria after St Patrick's Day Celebrations, 3/1938. Aspects of period as signaller with 1st Bn Hampshire Regt in Egypt and Palestine, 1939-1940: receiving signal of declaration of Second World War at El Dhaba in Egypt, 3/9/1939; contact with Bedouins, autumn 1939.
REEL 3 Continues: move to Palestine, 12/1939; character of Australian Army troops; conflict between Australian Army troops and Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) in Jerusalem, Palestine; jockeys from Veterinary Corps; return to Moascar, Egypt, 1940; announcement of declaration of war by Italians, 10/6/1940. Recollections of operations as NCO with 1st Bn Hampshire Regt, Western Desert Force in Egypt and Libya, 6/1940-2/1941: condition of Egyptian Army positions, 6/1940; abortive attempt of Egyptian Army to hide breech blocks in sand at Mersa Matruh; Italian Air Force attacks on Mersa Matruh; inadequacy of dug outs; impression of Middle East Commando unit, 1940; canteen supply van run by French spies; deception measures in Western Desert, 1940; reaction to military policeman who was injured during Italian Air Force attack at Mersa Matruh; Italian Air Force attack on bathing troops at Mersa Matruh.
REEL 4 Continues: method of obtaining beer supplies; company store in underground cave; character of Italian positions; Italian Army's system of operating brothels; sight of flattened corpse of Italian prostitute on road; Italian use of rifles as tent poles at Buq Buq, 1940; becoming lost in sandstorm; problems with fresh water at Buq Buq; Christmas Day celebrations, 25/12/1940; destruction of Italian wine barrels by commanding officer; soldier suffering from battle fatigue; equipment taken from Italians, 1940-1941; joke played on comrade dressed as Italian officer; move to area around Cairo; arrival of Middle East Commando at Geneifa, 1/1941; memories of Harry Hampshire Rivett.
REEL 5 Continues: petrol fiddle of his friend Bill Tiller, 1941; attempt of French ships to escape from Alexandria. Recollections of period as NCO with 1st Bn Hampshire Regt, 1st (Malta) Infantry Bde on Malta, 2/1941-3/1943: voyage aboard HMS Breconshire from Egypt to Malta, 21/2/1941; accommodation in walled palace at Gudia; rescue of soldier from rubble after German bombing; rescue of President of Regimental Institution (PRI) funds after bombing; anti-personnel bombs used by Axis air forces; incidents that occurred during Axis bombing; attempt by Maltese civilians to kill Italian Air Force pilot; unloading ships in Grand Harbour which broke the blockade; memories of HMS Penelope in Grand Harbour; physical condition of unit; opinion of stoicism of Maltese civilians; direct hit on cinema in The Gut, Valletta; sight of pilotless Bristol Beaufighter, 25/12/1942.
REEL 6 Continues: intensity of air raids; character of repairs to airfield at RAF Luqa; practical joke played on him by Royal Air Force fitters; soldier who ate snails at his Maltese girlfriend's home; role of priests in boosting population; state of tanker SS Ohio on arrival in Grand Harbour, 15/8/1942; signs of lifting of siege; reaction to operation of Supermarine Spitfires against German Air Force Junkers Ju 87 Stuka dive-bombers; loss of HMS Breconshire, 27/3/1942; amusing story of three dead drunk sailors put in morgue; send off brigade recieved in Grand Harbour, 3/1943. Aspects of period as NCO with 1st Bn Hampshire Regt, 231st Independent Infantry Bde in Egypt, 3/1943-7/1943: reception in Alexandria, 3/1943; Arab thieves' use of dogs on forays; preparations for invasion of Sicily, Italy at Kabrit including climbing Great Pyramid at Giza.
REEL 7 Continues: NCO who was psychologically disturbed by his experiences in North Africa. Recollections of operations as NCO with 1st Bn Hampshire Regt, 231st Independent Infantry Bde on Sicily, Italy, 7/1943-9/1943: embarkation aboard HMT Otranto; character of disembarkation and landing; confusion over different British and American passwords; question of indifference to casualties in action; capture of Noto; character of Axis opposition at Monastery Hill, 7/1943; use of signalmen as riflemen for attack on Monastery Hill; loss of officer at Monastery Hill; German booby-trapping of dead at Monastery Hill; move into Agira; battle exhaustion of troops and issue of Benzedrine pills.
REEL 8 Continues: on patrol; soldier who fell asleep standing up on patrol; character of fighting at Agira; orders to soldier not to leave line to retrieve his small pack; reiteration of story about patrol near Agira; opinion of Brigadier Roy Urquhart; Canadian attack on Agira; under German mortar fire near Agira; affect of fire on advancing Germans near Agira; German withdrawal from Agira; character of river crossing by A Coy against Italian opposition; capture of Italian despatch rider; Italian civilian family's shelter in well; attitude of British Army to looting.
REEL 9 Continues: his attitude to looting Royal Naval personnel; Sicilian civilians and horse blown up by mine; sight of dead British troops near culvert; request by Italian civilians not to damage their town; story relating to plight of Italian civilians; fighting at Monte Campanelli; escape of Germans across Straits of Messina, 9/1943; visit by General Bernard Montgomery; attitude towards behaviour of commandos. Recollections of operations as NCO with 1st Bn Hampshire Regt, 231st Independent Infantry Bde in Italy, 9/1943-11/1943: crossing between Sicily and Italian mainland, 7/9/1943; amusing late arrival of No 40 (Royal Marine) Commando and No 3 Commando during landings in Italy, 7/9/1943; advance inland.
REEL 10 Continues: grenade attack on German Army troops; incident when commando officer asked him to act as bait for German Army sniper; reaction to killing of German Army sniper; duel between landing craft and German Army machine gun position; personal attack on him by German Air Force; reaction of officer to discovery that Germans had captured a land line; his reporting as dead; night in foxhole with dead Italian; news of Italian surrender, 8/9/1943; encounter with General Bernard Montgomery; story of undersized soldier; pollution of stream by dead German; care of German wounded.
REEL 11 Continues: question of bridge being protected by heat cone; commandeering Italian priest's car; withdrawal to Sicily, 10/1943. Aspects of period as NCO with 1st Bn Hampshire Regt, 231st Infantry Bde, 50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Div in GB, 11/1943-6/1944: attachment to division and return to GB, 11/1943; in camp at Long Melford; singing of 'Lili Marlene'; question of effect of German propaganda on American troops; loss of contents of compo packs to stevedores and rear echelon troops; lack of effect of German propaganda on British Army troops; return to Southampton on leave, 12/1943; brief visit by King George VI; amphibious landing training at Inveraray, 1944.
REEL 12 Continues: method of waterproofing watches; problems Canadians encountered with amphibious landings; pre-invasion training at Fawley; concentration of troops in Hampshire, 1944; exercise with specialist armour; security over training on Hayling Island; narrow escape from accident with DUKW at Hayling Island; sealing of camp, 5/1944; method of breaking out of camp; different methods of cleaning mess tins in British and American Armies. Aspects of period as NCO with 1st Bn Hampshire Regt, 231st Infantry Bde, 50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Div crossing English Channel, 5/6/1944-6/6/1944: embarkation at Southampton Docks; guarding soldier who constantly deserted; attitude of seaman who didn't know destination.
REEL 13 Continues: rations; gambling during crossing; crossing English Channel; rocket ships opening fire, morning D-Day, 6/6/1944; argument with Royal Naval officer about depth of water where landing craft had grounded; deep water landing; hit on landing craft from German shell; determination of landing craft commander to return back to GB; corpses on the beach. Recollections of operations as NCO with 1st Bn Hampshire Regt, 231st Infantry Bde, 50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Div on Gold Beach, Normandy, France, D-Day, 6/6/1944: disembarkation on Gold Beach negotiating beach obstacles; opinion of role of Royal Corps of Signals; taking prisoner Russians serving with German Army; orders not to take prisoners of war in initial landing wave; arrival of Sherman Duplex Drive Tanks; question of gaps in battalion ranks due to problems with malaria; problems organising battalion signals.
REEL 14 Continues: German use of reconnaissance dogs; sight of dead Germans; story of German dog 'Paree' who became regimental mascot 'Fritz'; sight of oil bombs; French civilian's attendance of British grave; death of British officer; cutting loose of barrage balloons by naval craft; evening meal. Recollections of operations as NCO with 1st Bn Hampshire Regt, 231st Infantry Bde, 50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Div in Normandy, France, 7/6/1944-21/7/1944: advance inland, 7/6/1944; capture of Bayeux, 7/6/1944; change of commanding officer; question of failure of unit to occupy Hill 112; entry in bocage country; sight of British tank destroyed by German anti-tank gun; unit casualties caused by British naval barrage which fell short; German use of snipers left behind in foxholes and trees.
REEL 15 Continues: loss of signaller; sight of British and German dead; encounter with Royal Army Service Corp private; reaction to being under mortar fire German sniper prisoner of war's refusal to speak to Anglo-Indian intelligence NCO; shooting of French woman who shouted at retreating German troops; killing of German sniper harnessed to tree; taking up positions on outskirts at Hottot-les-Bagues; sight of mass of flies in flight; German defense of sunken road; memories of commanding officer; amusing incidents that occurred at Hottot-les-Bagues; system for collecting possessions of dead troops; amusing story of regimental sergeant-major celebrating birth of his son; wounding by mortar shell, 21/7/1944. Aspects of period of hospitalisation in GB, 7/1944-9/1944: attempt of nurse to help wounded guardsman.
REEL 16 Continues: recuperation; young soldier who lied about his age. Aspects of period as NCO with 1st Bn Hampshire Regt, 231st Infantry Bde, 50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Div in Belgium and Netherlands, 10/1944-11/1944: move to Bourg Leopold, Belgium, 10/1944; defense of bridge at Nijmegen, Netherlands against German frogman/diver attacks; soldier's shouting at Germans across no-man's land; return to GB, 11/1944. Aspects of period as instructor with General Service Corps at Helmsley Camp in GB, 12/1944-5/1945: training artillerymen and naval personnel as infantrymen; instructing in use of Bangalore Torpedo and Projector Infantry Anti-Tank (PIAT); training on assault course; use of thunderflashes during instruction.
REEL 17 Continues: establishing true story of regimental mascot 'Fritz'; German aircraft strafing of camp, 1945; casualties from great storm, 4/1945; celebrating VE Day, 8/5/1945. Reflections on service with 1st Bn Hampshire Regt during Second World War, 1939-1945: question of after effects of service; question of guilt about surviving when his comrades did not; question of social class of officers; incident of looting of boots of dead British soldiers by Sicilians, Italy, 7/1943; his attitude towards his good memory; question of war being worthwhile.
